Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite markers and tests of cross-amplification in four widespread European calcicole ferns

Premise of the study: Studies on the biogeography and population genetics of the widespread European rock ferns Asplenium scolopendrium, A. trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens, Polystichum setiferum, and P. aculeatum would potentially yield interesting new insights into the colonization capacities of ferns. Markers with sufficient resolution for detailed genetic studies are, however, not yet available.Methods and Results: Using genome screening with intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers, a total of 16 different microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized for the four species. Some of these markers could be exchanged within each congeneric pair.Conclusions: The developed primer sets will be very useful for analyses of the biogeography and population genetics of some widespread calcicole ferns. The observed cross-amplification rates suggest a high potential for application on additional species from the same genera.